How I will work toward advancing public transit in Hamilton

Transit is another hot topic in every election, and this is no different in ward 4.

Residents have asked what I think about bike lanes, the HSR and the LRT.

Here’s my response about the LRT. It is coming to Hamilton. The memorandum of understanding is signed. The federal and provincial governments have stated how much they will chip into this transformational project. LRT is on its way.

And I’m looking ahead to focus on alleviating stress, mitigating impacts and communicating proactively to residents and businesses in ward 4, especially those along the LRT route, as the project rolls on.

To me, a cornerstone of good public transit is equitable access for all in our community.

For this vision to work for our current bus system, I want to adopt a concerted approach to increase HSR ridership. To do so, I will work with our transit team to deliver and follow through on the existing Transit Strategy while preparing for a new 10-year plan for transit. I will advocate for the new Transit Strategy to account for alternative modes of transportation so our neighbours can get easily from their homes to a transit line (be it the LRT, or the Rapid Bus Network) and then to their final destination.

When it comes to bike infrastructure, I believe that having safe and protected bike lanes will ease congestion, support complete streets, and ultimately, keep cyclists safe. In addition to my own research, I will draw on insights from experts at City Hall and community organizations knowledgeable in the field, including Hamilton Bike Share and Cycle Hamilton.